Feeding for High Production and Profit

1. Feeding for High Production and Profit Dan Morrical Iowa State University Ames, Iowa

2. Nutrient Requirements • Reading those charts

3. Nutrient Requirements • Using those charts • ex. 175 ewe 1.62 TDN and .28 CP • Alfalfa 50% TDN 1.62/.5 = 3.2 lbs. • 3.2 X 16%CP = .51 lbs. of CP • MCS 19

4. Factors Affecting Nutrient Requirements of Ewes • Age • ewe lambs Vs yearlings Vs mature • Weight • 135 to 250 pound ewes • Stage Production • maintenance Vs lactation • Level of Production • rearing singles Vs twins Vs triplets

5. Concerns During Early Mid Gestation • 21 days of severe underfeeding • 80 days of moderate underfeeding • Both result in smaller placenta leading to reduced birthweights

6. Mid Gestation Nutrition Goals • Maintain condition - mature ewes • Yearlings and two year olds - increase condition • Higher incidence of fetal loss in young ewes. • Specific nutrients • Protein maybe • Other species - protein deficiency severely impacts placental size more than energy • Crop aftermath grazing - ?? protein

7. Recommendations for LG Feeding • Alfalfa hay based diets • Corn or other economical energy sources • Guideline - 1 LB. concentrate per fetus • Limit roughage intake • Mature ewes with 3 fetus or more • All ewe lambs • Low quality roughage as base ration require both protein and energy supplementation • Low energy diets with poor roughage's may respond to escape protein - MLC, 1983

8. Real Time Ultrasound Technology • Opportunity to fine tune the greatest unknown of sheep production which is ????

9. Australia Experiment No. of Fetuses Total Scans Exp. 1 Exp. 2 0 268 100 100 1 1276 99.1 98.1 2 1115 79.9 96.9 3 44 52.3* 4 4 0** *20 of 21 classed as 2 ** All classed as 3

10. Feeding by Fetal Number Objective • Control feed resource allocation • Modify birthweights • smaller singles • larger multiples • Increase lamb vigor, survival and growth

11. Late Gestation Secretory tissue development occurs. Larger placenta  more placenta lactogen. Ewes with multiples have larger placenta weight.

12. Consequences of Underfeeding • Weak, small lambs with high mortality • Reduced colostrum quality and quantity • Retarded weight gain both pre & post weaning • Reduced peak milk yield and less total production • Decreased re-breeding success • Reduced wool production via fewer secondary follicles

13. Consequences of Overfeeding • Thin wallets • Fat ewes • Upper limit on birthweight

14. Lactation Nutrition • Highest nutrient requirement • May be 50% of winter feed bill • Tremendous intake potential • self feed big packages

15. Factors Which Affect Milk Production • Lactation Diet Energy Status • Lactation Diet Protein Status • Late Gestation Nutrition - precaution • Ewe Fatness or Condition • Prolificacy

16. Must Determine Yield Levels One pound of lamb gain requires 4-5 pounds of ewe’s milk Separate Ewes in to Production Groups Example: singles Vs twins Vs triplets

17. 7.5 7 6.5 6 5.5 5 4.5 4 Milk Production Relative to Body Fatness 4. 37 lb TDN Max. Milk Yield lbs/day 2. 92 lb TDN 11 22 33 44 Fat in Body (lbs.)

18. 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 .37 .52 .66 .83 .83 .93 .93 1.10 Energy and Protein Vs. Yield M i l k Y i e l d 2.35 TDN 1.86 TDN 1.28 TDN Protein Intake

19. Milk Yield Results from Additional Protein Protein Added Protein Source .18 lbs. .44 lbs. Urea .29 0 Nutmeal .88 0 Soybean Meal .88 0 Meat & Bone Meal .88 0 Linseed Meal 1.32 0 Fish Meal 1.32 .55 Blood Meal 1.32 .74 145 lb. ewes rearing twins fed base diet 2.67 TDN 11.6% CP Gonzalez et al. 1982

20. Value of Protein Sources for UIP Escape Protein Conc. % % CP % Escape Grass Pasture 6-20 10 2 Alfalfa Hay 16-24 15 2.7 Dehydrated Alfalfa 16-18 20 3.4 SBM 44, Solvent 44 25 11 SBM 44, Expeller 43 50 21.5 CGM 60 40 24 Blood Meal 85 80 68 Fish Meal 60 40-80 24-48

21. Efficiency of Fat Mobilization for Milk • Protein Deficient diet 50% • Adequate protein 80%

22. Protein: Energy Relationship • Inverse Relationship • Less Energy Intake  More Protein (UIP) to balance fat mobilization. • Minimum protein per level of energy Intake. • Minimal level increases with increased yield. • Protein above minimum will milk production if genetic potential is not met.

23. Protein: Energy Relationship • Minimal level increases with increased yield. • Protein above minimum will milk production if genetic potential is not met.

24. Do My Ewes Need Escape Protein? Under weight loss - response will be seen within 3 days. No weight loss - response more persistent yield.

25. Rules for Maximum Milk Yield • Must feed adequate energy to prevent weight loss. • Otherwise ewes cannot express genetic potential.

26. Requirements per Pound of Milk • Above Maintenance Energy = .46 lbs TDN Protein = .11 lbs CP

27. Mastitis Control • Start drying up before weaning • feed low protein and energy feed • 5-10 days pre-weaning • feed low protein and energy feed • 3-5 days post-weaning • wean cold turkey

28. Feeding Ewes Requires balance between Feed Costs and Meeting Requirements

29. Feeding Ewes Requires balance between Feed Costs and Meeting Requirements

30. Feed Costs • Know requirements • Use condition scoring • Test hays • Buy feeds on nutrient cost basis • Control waste • Extend grazing season by improved management

31. Example Corn Vs Hay Corn serves as the Standard energy source $2.24 / bu / 56 = $.04 per pound $.04 / 77% TDN = $.052 per pound TDN Hay is worth: 2000 pound X 50% TDN = 1000 lb TDN 1000 X $.052 = $52 / ton assumes no waste

32. Summary • All phases of production are important • One can not starve or feed a profit • Correctly feeding the flock requires more than one pen • Lactation takes both protein and energy • Ewes on accelerated systems cannot lose much condition